The Nowhere Witch (Tales of Xest #2) - Donna Augustine Page 0,3
warm and inviting as he was. It was the kind of space that made you want to curl up in the corner of his yellow couch and read a book.
He brought me the tea and settled on the opposite side of the couch.
“So what happened? Did Hawk go and get you? I knew he’d bring you back. He’s been off ever since you left.” Zab wasn’t even sipping his tea as he waited hungrily for details.
Zab was my friend. That was a given. But he was Hawk’s guy too. That was also a given. This did have the potential to get awkward, and I didn’t know where Musso lived.
“Hawk didn’t bring me back. Those two bumbling idiots that kidnapped me the first time grabbed me again.” I sipped my tea as that little tidbit was absorbed.
“For who?” Zab asked.
“Not sure. They ran as soon as Hawk showed.” Another sip, another pause as I slowly fed him the details.
“Then Hawk just showed up in the middle of the abduction?” He leaned forward. “I’m so glad you’re back. Things are already more interesting.”
“I’m glad I could entertain,” I said, laughing. I wasn’t sure if it was actually funny or if I was exploding with nerves over whether I’d be tossed out on my ass when he found out that me and his boss weren’t seeing eye to eye. A lot hinged on Zab’s help. If he wasn’t the man I thought he was, being back in Xest was going to be a lot tougher. Not that I’d give up.
“Are you coming back to work at the office?” Zab asked.
I wrapped my hands around the warmth of the cup, trying to thaw out while planning my next words. “No, that’s unlikely.”
“Why not? I thought you liked it? We always had such a good time.” He leaned back a couple of inches, his chin dropping as he said, “I mean, I thought we did…”
I shook my head quickly. “We definitely did. We had a great time. I’ve missed you and Musso more than I thought possible. I even missed Helen. It’s not that at all. Hawk made it clear he wanted me to leave. He’s not looking to give me a job.”
Little wrinkles appeared around his eyes as he leaned forward again, the thoughts all jumbled up and spelled out on his expression.
He shook his head for a few seconds before the words came. “Hawk might say that he doesn’t want you here, but I don’t think it’s true. He hasn’t been the same man since you left. I’ll talk to him. He might be saying that, but I know him well enough to know it’s not what—”
“No, Zab. You’re not getting it. He was ready to drag me into a puddle to get me back to Salem tonight. When I left a couple months ago, he rushed me out the door, didn’t even give me a chance to say goodbye to you in person.”
One of Zab’s most endearing qualities was his loyalty. Right now, one of Zab’s most frustrating qualities was his loyalty. His inability to believe anything bad of the people he was close to was almost insurmountable. Hawk’s slight was still fresh and stinging. I had zero desire to convince Zab of how little Hawk wanted me around when I didn’t particularly like to think about it myself.
“Ah, shit. Does that mean you’re going back?” He looked like a kid who’d just been told he was getting no birthday gifts.
“No. I’m staying, whether Hawk wants me to or not.” Here was the moment of truth. Would he tell me to leave or would he try to help me make it here, when I so desperately needed any friend I could get?
I had to wait for the shock of my statement to fully absorb. Hawk wasn’t the only person here who thought he owned Xest. A lot of people seemed to think he did. Not to mention the caste system here. It was probably hard for anyone of lower magic to contemplate going against someone as strong as Hawk.
“Good for you! This place is better with you here. And you know I’ll help you any way I can.”
I hadn’t known if he’d go against Hawk, but hearing him say he would? Every nerve that felt like it had been tied up into knots felt like it had just gotten unraveled. Half the battle felt won. I rested an arm on the back of the couch, sagging a little into it.